posted
I came down with a yucky cold on Saturday. My throat hurt and it felt like I had some serious post nasal drip...hence all the yellow snot. I was feeling better Sunday and yesterday and went about my necessary business (probably over extending myself at the same time). Yesterday my voice was mostly not there, but my body didn't feel too bad, so I tried to do everything without the talking.
Today, it feels like it's settled in my upper chest. I hurts, it rattles, I'm starting to cough when I try to talk (and when I cough it really hurts)...I know this sounds like a normal cold, but it's been so long since I've had one like this that I can't remember what to do. Is there anything useful I could take or use OTC that would help clear this thing out of my lungs? My mom does a great old fashioned mustard plaster...I'm considering that.
Thanks ahead for any help. I think I'm going to try to go back to bed. Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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My cold has lasted for nine days now and the green snot festival continues, except now my head hurts all the time and my face hurts. Someone said it might be a sinus infection, and that leads me to my question:
How does a virus (which is not helped by antibiotics) turn into an infection (which apparently IS helped by antibiotics)?
Posts: 1163 | Registered: Jan 2005
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I started coughing right after Thanksgiving. Two weeks later, my chest was rattling with every breath and I couldn't take a full breath. By this time I'd already been to the doc once, who gave me a strong cough suppressant (it was good stuff...had a narcotic in it that made me totally loopy). Once the doc heard my rattling, he put me on antibiotics. They helped *a lot*.
I hope you feel better very soon. I'm only now feeling more myself.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Guaifenesin is great! You can get it without the actual cough medicine in Non-Drying Sudafed.
I don't know if that's good for you right now, but I do know it was the only OTC with guaifenesin last time I needed some that didn't have the cough supressants that make me loopy.
posted
Mucinex is straight guanifiaesn(sp?) in a tablet you only take twice a day. It is good stuff, though you don't want to overdose with another syrup that has more guanifeisen in it.
posted
When I get pneumonia, the docs always recommend Robitussin DM or CF. You can get Waltussin at WalMart for like, half the price and it's the same exact thing. They also usually give me an inhaler and expensive antibiotics. In the last decade or so though, when I've gotten a really bad cold, I start taking the Tussin immediately and get a Primatene Mist inhaler and I haven't ended up with pneumonia for (just counted the years) 12 years now!
If in the next few days, it suddenly feels like you have a 300 pound man sitting on your chest, go to the doctor immediately. Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I keep telling people that a sinus infection caused my ADEM, and my husand corrects me and says it triggered it. What is the difference? If it triggered it, did it not cause it?
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Narnia, listen to AJ. She is so right. When a cold goes deep into your chest, you need an expectorant. It makes *sooo* much difference. Of course, an antihistamine to keep the drip from happening helps too.
Apparently I have chronic post-nasal drip, so I sympathize. I may not get as sick as most people do, but I know what it feels like to not be able to sleep because you are drowning in your own phlegm.
posted
*hugs* Thanks, Sara. Duration of symptoms = 9 days. Facial pressure, worse when leaning over = yes. Headache = yes. Teeth pain = weird, but yes. I was just thinking I needed to see the dentist again, but I thought maybe that was triggered by reading One, Two, Buckle My Shoe yesterday.
quote:It so happens that snot is nice, moist, proteinaceous, and rich in carbohydrates -- i.e., you essentially manufacture a petri dish in your nose.
I am so saving and using this.
[ January 11, 2005, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: Lady Jane ]
Posts: 1163 | Registered: Jan 2005
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I'm going to try the expectorant for a day or so and see if I feel better. If not, I'll definitely get to a Dr. You guys are the greatest!! *hugs the thread* *feels guilty and reverts to 5 foot perimeter*
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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I'm sick too. I don't know if it's a cold or allergies, but I've been sneezing and have had a stuffed up nose for the last few weeks. Last night my body introduced a new wrinkle by allowing my chest to tighten so much that I couldn't sleep. 4 shots with the inhaler didn't even touch it. I'm wheezing and feel like crap.
whine out - space opera
Posts: 2578 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
It seems like half the people I know are sick right now. We went to Utah over Christmas and my youngest got a cold, so then of course the rest of us caught it. My husband is going on two weeks now of feeling icky, and now my youngest is acting like he's getting sick AGAIN. No fun.
Anyway, hope those of you who aren't feeling well feel better soon! And I can testify that the humidifier DOES make a big difference, especially in the winter when the heater is drying out your air.
quote: Some physicians still order the tests despite the fact that it is not evidence-based practice.
Sara, I really want to meet you. (Because of this, and other things).
And, I would really like my Mum to meet you. She is a GP who has basically introduced evidence-based-medicine to her (soon to be ex) university. I admire you, and her, greatly in terms of medicine. I think you would get on.
And if not, we could always go out afterwards. Posts: 4393 | Registered: Aug 2003
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What causes the different colors of snot? In the two weeks I've been sick, it's been green, yellow, brown , and clear, and can change by the day. What's that from?
Posts: 1163 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
All I know is the two times I went to India, my snot turned black.
*ick*
Apparently something to do with the pollutants/smoke in the air. My hair also rinsed black (as in the water) the entire time I was there.
Posts: 4393 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
jeni, ( for asking), I am still feeling badly, but my symptoms have changed - less petri dish, more pressure cooker. I think I'll go to the doctor this afternoon.
Posts: 1163 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Doctors are nice people. They get lonely for friends. You're a good friend, kat, so do your doctor a favor and go visit. You know what happens to pressure cookers who don't get relief, right?
BOOM.
Not good. Hair, teeth and eyeballs everywhere. Which is harder to get off your screen than Dr. Pepper.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Yes Dr.
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(Because of this, and other things).![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
, and clear, and can change by the day. What's that from?
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Hair, teeth and eyeballs everywhere. Which is harder to get off your screen than Dr. Pepper.
